AGTA Spectrum & Cutting Edge Awards
The world’s finest jewelry and colored gemstone competition.
2004 Winners
2004 Winners
Best Of
Only the most brilliant, breathtaking pieces are worthy of the Best of Show trophy. Winning designs must possess beauty, mastery, and imagination beyond compare. Consideration for the Best of Show award is limited to first place winners in each category.
Best Use of Color
Steven Wright, American Jewelry Artworks - 18K yellow gold and platinum necklace featuring a 21.25 ct. Aquamarine, a 10.7 ct. Topaz, a 10.10 ct. Citrine and a 9.05 ct. Rubellite Tourmaline. Accented with Diamonds.
1st Place and Best of Show
Dalan Hargrave, Dust Devil Mining - "Genesis 1:16" celestial city Sunstone carving with Diamonds and Moldavite (91.0 ct. tw).
Platinum Honors™
Sponsored by Platinum Guild International, Platinum Honors™ recognizes the outstanding use of platinum in colored gemstone and/or pearl jewelry in the five AGTA Spectrum Awards™ categories, three Platinum Innovation categories and for the Best Use of Color and Platinum.
Platinum Honors™ - Men’s Wear
Lee Charles Buckingham, Neiman Marcus - Platinum and 22K yellow gold men's ring featuring a 4.41 ct. green Diamond.
Platinum Honors™ - Men’s Wear
Burdett A. Milkins, BAM Designs by Burdett - Platinum tied tuxedo fly set with four button covers, cufflinks and a lapel pin featuring nine yellow Sapphires, two Tsavorite Garnets and three red Spinels.
Platinum Honors™ - Men’s Wear
Mirjam Butz-Brown, Mirjam Butz-Brown Jewels - Platinum pendant featuring a 6.75 ct. blue Sapphire accented with Diamonds (.12 ct. tw).
Platinum Honors™ - Evening Wear
Samuel Getz, Samuel Getz Private Jewelers & Designers - Platinum and 18K white gold snowflake brooch featuring a 77.30 ct. Aquamarine accented with six Aquamarines (.71 ct. tw) and Diamonds (11.21 ct. tw).
Platinum Honors™ - Evening Wear
Sandra Muller, Lila Gems Inc. - Platinum ring featuring a white baroque Keshi Tahitian Pearl accented with Diamonds (1.52 ct. tw).
Platinum Honors™ - Evening Wear
Alishan Halebian, Alishan - Platinum "Calypso" pin/pendant featuring a 31.21 ct. Aquamarine accented with blue Sapphires (.80 ct. tw) and Diamonds (.55 ct. tw).
Platinum Honors™ - Casual Wear
Phillip Dismuke, Jewelsmith, Inc. - Platinum and 18K yellow gold ring with a 3.10 ct. Demantoid Garnet and Diamonds.
Platinum Honors™ - Casual Wear
Phillip Dismuke, Jewelsmith, Inc. - Platinum necklace with a carved black Onyx disc, a 5.53 ct. Spessartite Garnet and .14 ct. Diamond.
Platinum Honors™ - Casual Wear
Janet T. Tzou, Baby Doll Gems - Platinum "Teddy Bear' ring featuring a 6.40 ct. pink Tourmaline accented with Diamonds (.15 ct. tw).
Platinum Honors™ - Business / Day Wear
Peter Lees, Peter Lees Jewelry - Platinum "Neo Deco" pendant featuring an 11.19 ct. blue Zircon accented with 40 Diamonds (.22 ct. tw)
Platinum Honors™ - Business / Day Wear
David Humphrey, David Humphrey Fine Jewels - Platinum and 18K yellow gold "Love Birds Poolside" ring featuring a 4.32 ct. Aquamarine accented with Diamonds (.29 ct. tw).
Platinum Honors™ - Business / Day Wear
Marie Scarpa, Marie Scarpa Designs - Platinum and 18K yellow gold brooch featuring a 2.54 ct. Tourmaline accented with Sapphires, Garnets, Tourmaline, Ruby, Mexican Opal, Aquamarine, Peridot, Amethyst, Tanzanite and Topaz.
Platinum Honors™ - Bridal Wear
Jeffrey Bilgore, Jeffrey Bilgore LLC - 18K yellow gold and platinum ring featuring a 12.36 ct. pink Sapphire accented with Diamonds.
Platinum Honors™ - Bridal Wear
John T. Haynes, John T. Haynes, Inc. - Platinum ring featuring a 3.58 ct. Paraiba Tourmaline accented with Diamonds.
Platinum Honors™ - Bridal Wear
Jack Abraham, Precious Gem Resources, Inc. - Platinum necklace and earring suite featuring pink Sapphires (51.06 ct. tw) and Diamonds (32.40 ct. tw).
Platinum Honors™
Sponsored by Platinum Guild International, Platinum Honors™ recognizes the outstanding use of platinum in colored gemstone and/or pearl jewelry in the five AGTA Spectrum Awards™ categories, three Platinum Innovation categories and for the Best Use of Color and Platinum.
Bridal Wear
Whether gracing the bridesmaids or donning the bride herself, this category captures every look for walking down the aisle. This category is sponsored by The Knot, the #1 wedding network in the U.S., reaching over 80% of brides.
Manufacturing Honors
Yaroslav Shukel, Aurora Studio - Platinum and 18K rose gold ring featuring a 1.64 ct. peach Diamond with an accompanying platinum wedding band.
3rd Place
Lee Charles Buckingham, Neiman Marcus - Platinum and 18K yellow gold earrings featuring two white and two yellow South Sea Pearls accented with Diamonds (.20 ct. tw).
2nd Place
Barbara M. Berk, Barbara Berk Designs - Platinum set "Streamers" pendant featuring three white Cultured South Sea Pearls suspended from a white silk ribbon.
1st Place
Safdie Basta, E. Eichberg Inc. - Platinum ring featuring a 12.65 ct. orange Garnet accented with Diamonds (1.20 ct. tw).
Business & Day Wear
Stylish, practical jewelry perfectly suited for work and for play. Entries should possess simple elegance for a woman on the move.
Manufacturing Honors
Scott Keating, Scott Keating Design - 18K white gold hoop earrings featuring two white natural South Sea Pearls accented with eight Diamonds (.20 ct. tw).
3rd Place
Yaroslav Shukel, Aurora Studio - Platinum and 18K rose gold earrings featuring purple Sapphires (3.54 ct. tw) and pink Sapphires (.18 ct. tw).
2nd Place
Llyn Strelau, Jewels by Design - Platinum, 18K yellow and white gold and stainless steel necklace with Indicolite Tourmalines (6.42 ct. tw), a South Sea black Pearl and .10 ct. Diamond.
1st Place
Jack Demerjian, J. Demere Designs - 18K yellow and white gold pendant featuring a 12.52 ct. bicolor Citrine, 67 yellow Diamonds (1.40 ct. tw) and 67 white Diamonds (1.43 ct. tw).
Business & Day Wear
Stylish, practical jewelry perfectly suited for work and for play. Entries should possess simple elegance for a woman on the move.
Casual Wear
This category represents timeless style. Whether a string of Pearls or an elegant pendant, Classical entries strike the balance of traditional feel with a modern twist.
Manufacturing Honors
Jane Wullbrandt, Jane Wullbrandt Designs, Inc. - 18K white and rose gold ring featuring a 1.68 ct. Aquamarine, yellow Sapphires (.13 ct. tw) and pink Sapphires (.31 ct. tw).
Honorable Mention
Mark Loren, Mark Loren Designs, Inc. - 14K yellow gold earrings featuring matched bicolor Tourmalines (6.98 ct. tw).
Honorable Mention
Safdie Basta, E. Eichberg Inc. - 18K yellow and platinum gold ring featuring a 15.61 ct. Emerald cabochon accented with blue Sapphires (.93 ct. tw), Rubies (.33 ct. tw) and yellow and white Diamonds (1.26 ct. tw)
3rd Place
Marya Dabrowski, Marya Dabrowski, Inc. - 18K yellow gold earrings featuring Amethyst, pink Tourmaline, Peridot, Tanzanite and Apatite.
2nd Place
Garo Demirjian, Demirjian Jewelry Design - 18K white and rose gold bangle bracelet with a 13mm black Tahitian Pearl, multicolor Sapphires (3.57 ct. tw) and Diamonds (.84 ct. tw).
1st Place
Lisa Nolta, Gabrielle Ferrar - 18K yellow gold and platinum necklace featuring a 13.5mm yellow South Sea Pearl and 114 Ceylon yellow Sapphires.
Evening Wear
Pieces in this category fall nothing short of spectacular. Entries can range from red carpet fabulous to stunningly chic– and all must have exceptional color.
Manufacturing Honors
Philip H. Stone, Hyde Park Jewelers - 18K white and yellow gold bracelet featuring Tahitian Pearls (8.5mm) accented with multicolor Sapphires (5.56 ct. tw) and Diamonds (.60 ct. tw).
Honorable Mention
Anita Dickey, Simplisity Co. - 18K white gold "Snow White" earrings featuring two white South Sea Pearls mounted on a setting of Diamonds (6.58 ct. tw) accented with white feathers.
3rd Place
Jack Demerjian, J. Demere Designs - 18K yellow and white gold pendant featuring a 14.75 ct. bicolor Tourmaline, 111 pink Sapphires (2.40 ct. tw) and 111 blue Sapphires (2.33 ct. tw) accented with Diamonds (1.72 ct. tw).
2nd Place
Zoltan David, Zoltan David Precious Metal Art - Platinum and 24K gold ring featuring a 10.85 ct. Rubellite Tourmaline accented with Diamonds (.45 ct. tw).
1st Place
George Kocsis, Spectrum Gems Inc. - Platinum earrings featuring RubelliteTourmalines (53.25 ct. tw) in the earrings accented with Diamonds.
Evening Wear
Pieces in this category fall nothing short of spectacular. Entries can range from red carpet fabulous to stunningly chic– and all must have exceptional color.
Men's Wear
Fine jewelry is the quintessence of the modern man. Entries in this category, ranging from rings to bracelets, cufflinks to belt buckles, express the myriad ways a gentleman can express himself.
Manufacturing Honors
William Richey, William Richey Designs - 22K and 18K yellow gold cufflinks featuring Amethyst (.30 ct. tw).
Honorable Mention
Lee Charles Buckingham, Neiman Marcus - 18K yellow gold cufflinks featuring two Citrines (14.32 ct. tw) accented with 18 Diamonds (1.08 ct. tw).
3rd Place
William S. Holman, William S. Holman Design Group, Inc. - 18K yellow gold men's cufflinks with two 1.25 ct. blue Sapphires set in center stones of blue-dyed Agate with 24K deposit on crystals.
2nd Place
Helen Shved, Helen Shved - 18K white gold ring featuring a 6.98 ct. rough Diamond accented with yellow Diamonds (.80 ct. tw) and white Diamonds (.60 ct. tw).
1st Place
David Trout, Coffin & Trout - Platinum and 18K yellow gold ring featuring an 11.4mm golden South Sea Cultured Pearl accented with Diamonds (1.50 ct. tw).
All Other Faceted
Cutting Edge Award
Open to any extraordinary faceted gemstone featuring traditional gemstone cutting techniques.
3rd Place
Hemant Phophaliya, A G Color, Inc. - 23.58 ct. oval cut Tanzanite cabochon.
2nd Place
Darrell Jang, Darrell Jang - 13.21 ct. cushion cut neon green Afghani Tourmaline.
1st Place
Ben Kho, Kho International Ltd. - 13.96 ct. trillion cut natural Rhodochrosite.
All Other Faceted
Cutting Edge Award
Open to any extraordinary faceted gemstone featuring traditional gemstone cutting techniques.
Carving
Cutting Edge Award
Open to any natural gem material carved in any style.
3rd Place
Dalan Hargrave, Dust Devil Mining - 7.0 ct. spirographic cut, bicolor Sunstone.
2nd Place
Michael M. Dyber, Ledge Art Studio - 142.88 ct. Ametrine that uses polished and frosted areas to play light and images against each other.
1st Place and Best of Show
Dalan Hargrave, Dust Devil Mining - "Genesis 1:16" celestial city Sunstone carving with Diamonds and Moldavite (91.0 ct. tw).
Classic Gemstones
Cutting Edge Award
Open to outstanding examples of Rubies, Emeralds, and Sapphires featuring traditional gemstone cutting techniques.
Honorable Mention
Joseph Ambalu, Amba Gem Corp. - 5.38 ct. Emerald cut pink Sapphire.
3rd Place
Joseph Ambalu, Amba Gem Corp. - 7.15 ct. cushion cut blue natural Sapphire.
2nd Place
Michael Arnstein, Walter Arnstein, Inc. - 43.79 ct. unheated yellow Sapphire.
1st Place
Allen Kleiman, A. Kleiman & Co. - 11.91 ct. cushion cut natural pink Sapphire.
Classic Gemstones
Cutting Edge Award
Open to outstanding examples of Rubies, Emeralds, and Sapphires featuring traditional gemstone cutting techniques.
Combination
Cutting Edge Award
Honorable Mention
Dalan Hargrave, Gemstarz - 75.0 ct. Ametrine.
Honorable Mention
Michael Edwards, Sunstones & Such - Mixed cut, orange/red Sunstone.
3rd Place
Larry C. Winn, AJS Enterprises, Inc. - 53.52 ct. combination cut green Mozambique Aquamarine.
2nd Place
Larry Woods, Jewels From The Woods - 32.25 ct. Spessartite Garnet Medicine Wheel.
1st Place
Andrew Gulij, Gemfix - 59.63 ct. "Aquarium" Aquamarine utilizing "gem-intrusion" to insert Lapis, Sugilite, Coral, Tiger Eye, Turquoise and Malachite into the Aquamarine.
Faceting
Cutting Edge Award
Open to any gemstone featuring innovative faceting and lapidary techniques.
Honorable Mention
Bobbie Lorett, Originals by Bobbie - 7.40 ct. checker fan cut Tanzanite.
3rd Place
David Brackna, David A. Brackna, Gemcutter - 30.38 ct. "striated horizon" cut Amethyst.
2nd Place
Arthur Lee Anderson, Arthur Lee Anderson/GemArts - 20.92 ct. "Vin Cut" Citrine.
1st Place
John Dyer, Precious Gemstones Co. - 31.66 ct. modified, super trillion cut natural Aquamarine.
Faceting
Cutting Edge Award
Open to any gemstone featuring innovative faceting and lapidary techniques.
Pairs and Suites
Cutting Edge Award
Open to any two or more gemstones to be judged as a set.
Honorable Mention
Andrew Gulij, Gemfix - "Timeless" pair featuring Citrine bonded to Mother of Pearl, black Onyx and Australian Opal (103.57 ct. tw).
3rd Place
John Dyer, Precious Gemstones Co. - Pink and green Tourmaline (12.48 ct. tw) "Dreamscapes" suite.
2nd Place
Larry Woods, Jewels From The Woods - 11 piece Spessartite Garnet (32.25 ct. tw) suite.
1st Place
Matt Casteen, Matt Casteen - Suite featuring a 4.30 ct. pink Tourmaline, a 7.92 ct. blue-green Tourmaline and a 4.49 ct. pink Tourmaline.
Objects of Art
Cutting Edge Award
Open to carvings, bowls, sculptures, intarsia, etc., of gem materials not intended to be worn. Objects may incorporate metal, wood or other non-gem materials as base, frame or decorative components.
2nd Place
Philip E. Louer Jr., North American Gem Carvers - Intasia box featuring gold and quartz Malachite, Azurite, Sugilite, Rhodochrosite, Turquoise, Opal, Lapis and fossilized wood.
1st Place
Ralph Wobito, Wobito Gems Ltd. - 18K yellow gold perfume bottle carved from yellow Beryl.
Objects of Art
Cutting Edge Award
Open to carvings, bowls, sculptures, intarsia, etc., of gem materials not intended to be worn. Objects may incorporate metal, wood or other non-gem materials as base, frame or decorative components.